This is a key question to the whole project.  Besides the fact that they
are cute and cuddly - polar bears are important for many reasons.  Polar
bears are what are known as an umbrella species; many organisms are
connected to polar bears via a food web.  For example, the Arctic Fox
depends on the polar bear for food - they eat the left over seal carcass
after the polar bear is done.  Polar bears feed on seals, without the
predator then the seal population might increase also affecting the fish
that seals feed on - and so on.

Another reason to care about the polar bears is the overall notion of
biodiversity.  Biodiversity refers to the number of different species.
For example there are millions of different species of beetles.  While it
may not seem important to have so many types, each is a specialist in
terms of food, habitat, behavior, etc.  Each plays a role in ecosystems.
A great analogy for this is an engine.  If you pull one part out of an
engine, but don't know what it is - you wouldn't just throw it away.
You'd save it because maybe later you would understand it's importance and
use.

Another reason there is so much focus on polar bears is because they get
attention of the public.  They serve as a sort of "ambassador" species for
what's happening in the Arctic right now.  They serve as a gauge to
measure affects of climate change.

I know there are lots of opinions on this, but hopefully this is just a
start to get you thinking.

Thanks,
Ms Galvan

Deepak Charan

Hello Ms. Galvan, Well, to me Polar Bears are important because Ms. Galvan loves them, and we do not want polar bears to go extinct since they are a well known animal. And if they go extinct Ms.Galvan will go through a stage called depression , and we do not want that. And Ms. G, can you please tell me what umbrella species are, or are you going to tell me to look it up since I am a college student...lol. KEEP DOING WHAT YOU DO WITH POLAR BEARS!...

Deepak Charan

Hello Cruella, How are you liking it so far being out there. I read the part where you talked about thinking about earthquakes when the boat hit the ice bergs . Well talking about earthquakes;yesterday a very large Earthquake (confirmed 8.3) hit both of our home islands, Samoa & American Samoa. The village of Pago Pago (A.S. capitol) and the village of Leone have suffered the worst damage in American Samoa. As of 3 am this morning the confirmed loss of life is at 26 and the number is growing, A large number of confirmed fatalities originating from the village of Leone. It is said that the damage in the island of Samoa is far worse than that of American Samoa. However, there have been no official reports coming out of Apia. To track progress information on both Samoa & American Samoan please log onto: www.cnn.com. Since I was the founder and president of the Polynesian Club/Samoan Solutions at EPA High, I am helping Samoa by collecting donations and items to ship to Samoa with Misla. So any ways, take a lot of pictures on your trip and post them on facebook, take many pictures of polar bears and we can make a polar calendar! :) Well I will continue reading your journals and post stuff up here once in a while. :)-Deepak Charan

Cristina Galvan

Hi Deepak!Thanks so much for your post! I'm glad to see that you are following along!
You are right, now that you are a college student - I want you to look up
"umbrella species" - start with Google. Let me know what you find and
I'll let you know if you are on the right track!
Thanks,
Ms Galvan

Cristina Galvan

Hi Deepak,I heard about the earthquakes and tsunami that has happened. It's a
really tragic thing. I am glad to hear that you and the Polynesian club
are going to do something to help out. I would be happy to put together
some pictures when I get back to help out in any way possible!
I can't post picture to Facebook to keep people updated because my only
internet access is an email address through the Polar Sea. There is very
limited internet access. However, I would appreciate it if you could post
links to the PolarTrec site on Facebook so that other EPA students and
Alumni remember to follow along.
Thanks so much and send my love to the Polynesian club at EPA.
- Ms Galvan

Ms. Grover's A…

HI Ms. Galvan!We're sitting in morning advisory learning about polar bears. Some questions we have:
Are you taking blood samples of the polar bears?
How cold is it?
How do you get those collars on the bears??
How do you find the bears before you put the collars on them.
Joel Alvarez, Ashley Darden, Alondra Vargas (and pretty much everyone else) says hello and hope you visit after the trip.
Go Bulldogs (2-0-1 and 13 goals!)
Class of 2010

Cristina Galvan

Hi Alondra, Joel, Ashley, and the rest of the best advisory at EPAA!When a bear is captured, the scientist will take blood samples and the run
a few different tests on the blood. They look at the serums, clotting
factors, triglycerides and cholesterols.
The temperatures have not been too cold here - ranging from 28-31 F.
However, today it finally got a bit colder, about 22 F. You can track the
temperature daily in the journal entries. It's supposed to be getting
colder soon, which is actually good so that we can get some thicker sea
ice.
For getting the collars on the bears, a team came out to Barrow (a small
town on the Northern Alaska coast) and used a helicopter to track down
bears. Basically, they would fly in a certain area looking for polar bear
tracks. Once they find the tracks, the follow them in hopes of finding a
bear. When the find the bear, the dart it with a tranquilizer. Once the
bear is asleep, then they can put the collar on the bear.
I'm so glad that you guys are following along and I look forward to
getting more questions from you!
- Ms Galvan
PS. Go Bulldogs!

Sissy Toni

Hey U,Polar bears are cute but cuddly? Lexi has a stuffed one that's pretty cuddly! The girls send their love and they love looking at the photos and reading your blog entries. Take care of yourself and don't fall overboard! Dad is doing better...i spent 4 days out there last week.
xoxo
Toni

Cristina Galvan

Hi Toni!Glad to hear from you! It's nice to know the girls and you guys are
following along.
I am pretty careful while I am outside - so don't be worried!
Thanks!
Cristina

Deepak Charan

Hey Ms. Galvan,-UMBRELLA SPECIES: Umbrella species are species selected for making conservation related decisions, typically because protecting these species indirectly protects the many other species that make up the ecological community of its habitat. Species conservation can be subjective because it is hard to determine the status of many species. With millions of species of concern, the identification of selected keystone species, flagship species or umbrella species makes conservation decisions easier. Umbrella species can be used to help select the locations of potential reserves, find the minimum size of these conservation areas or reserves, and to determine the composition, structure and processes of ecosystems.
-There is your answer...., off of Google. I will send love for you to the Poly Club at EPAA when I visit again. By the way I have helped start a club here at East Bay called PISC- Pacific Islander Student Club, I am the Vice president this club. And I sure will post some links on facebook for you. And when do you come back, I have people who want to visit you.Have a nice one.
-Deepak Charan

Cristina Galvan

Thanks Deepak!Now, can you put that definition into your own words? (you had to know I
was going to ask that).
I'm glad to hear you are doing well at East Bay. I'd love for you to
visit again when I get back - maybe you can come to my students
exhibition. They are a bit different that EPAs - more like Poetry Night
or Dia de los Muertos - should be fun!
- Ms Galvan

Deepak Charan

Ms. Galvan....wait your a Mrs.????, OMG, I so knew your going to ask me to put it into my own words...that's so you. What date is this exhibition on? I will try my best to come! :)

Cristina Galvan

Hi Deepak,I'll send you a text when I get back with the info on the exhibition.
I'm waiting for the definition in your own words.....
Ms G

Anonymous

im doing my project on polar bears im in the 5th grade and im confuesed on why they are important plz help. :) from,
Victoria

Anonymous

But i like what you posted i think the same....... they are cute From,
Victoria

Anonymous

I'm doing a project and this website really helped me.

Anonymous

i need help on my polar bear projectfrom brooke
mcfallen

Anonymous

i need help on my polar bear projectfrom brooke
mcfallen

Anonymous

your writing really helped mebrooke

Anonymous

can you help me with my FCA paper on Polar bears What do i say

Anonymous

i need help with why polar bears are inportant plz help thanks
jordan

monkey

i dont get it though why are they important.

nichole

what is being done to save polar bears cause I cant find any results on the internet and I have wonder a lot why is are polar bears so important to the world?please answer back I really need to know ....

zboysrock321

Hi nichole,people are trying to protect the polar bears by trying to stop oil drainage company's for drilling in there habitat's. There important because if they die that can there whole food chain and there can be an overpopulation of the animals they eat.
-zboysrock321

Alijah Mechenbier

Hi ms galvin I am ten years old and polar bears are my favorite and I don't want to see polar bears go extinct and I really want to help what should I do?

Cristina Galvan

Hi Alijah,I really don't want to see polar bears go extinct either! Not only are they such an interesting organism, but they are a very important part of the ecosystem in the Arctic. The biggest problem that polar bears are facing is that their habitat (where they live) is changing. As the Earth and the oceans get warmer, the ice that the live on is melting. So the best way to help protect polar bears from extinction is to help stop climate change. You can do lots of small things yourself (like walk to school instead of driving, waste less food, recycle and reuse things as much as possible) and you can also help to teach others about the importance of stopping climate change. Here's a website with lots of ideas about things you can do everyday to help: http://climatekids.nasa.gov/review/how-to-help/

Alijah Mechenbier

Thank you so much! I'll try to do the best I can to help!

isabel arias

i had learn new things about them so thats why i am doing a proyect about polar bears because they make up very good facts and how to proctec them

isabel arias

THERE MY FAVORITE ANIMALS BUT MY FRINDS SAY WHY DO I LIKE THEM

person

Thx for the info. You make me want to help polar bears a lot more than before.P.S i am a 5th grader

Guest

Thank you! This really helped me with my project!

Anonymous

So, I’m reading this in 2018. It seems a bit far from the original year this was posted, which was in 2009. To Ms. Galvan, who seems to have disappeared from this thread (also) in 2009, I really loved reading your conversation with Deepak. I wonder if he/she ended up giving the definition of “umbrella species” in his/her own words. I hope that the expedition went well and that you and Deepak are also doing well. And if you(Ms. Galvan) are wondering, I did originally come to this website for some help for this high school assignment on Arctic biosystems, and it helped a little, so thanks for that as well.-Anonymous Reader, who aspires to spread random acts of kindness (such as this comment) throughout the world :)